Sequoia legend dies at 58

Early Friday morning, Johnson died of cancer in his home in the Montclair District of Oakland. He was 68 years old.

An intensely private man, there were very few that knew he was suffering from cancer. Terry Crowley, a close friend since before their high school days, said while he didn't know exactly what was wrong, he knew something was.

"I spent so much time with him," Crowley said. "I noticed differences, the weight loss. He didn't tell anybody.

"He was a great friend and one of the most fantastic people I ever met in my life."

Johnson, who had his number retired by Sequoia in 2005, played three years at the varsity level in high school, improving the team's standing every season. By the time he was a senior, Johnson helped lead Sequoia to a league championship and a spot in the TOC -- a precursor to the modern state basketball tournament. He also earned Northern California Player of the Year honors.

"You couldn't get in the gyms (to watch him on game night). It was standing-room only," Crowley said. "He was spectacular in high school. He was lightning quick. (He had) great hands. He jumped out of the building. Big, huge, strong hands."

Johnson wasn't just a great basketball player. He was a great athlete. He won the Central Coast Section long jump title in 1967 with a distance of 24-7 1/2 inches. In 2007, Westmoor's Jaime Gonzalez won CCS with a jump of 22-7 3/4. Crowley said Johnson played shortstop and pitched in Babe Ruth baseball and beat Sequoia's top singles tennis player. Later, he became a scratch golfer.

"When he was at Sequoia, he did some amazing things," said Ed Nordness, head of the Sequoia Alumni Association.

Johnson continued his exploits in college with the Golden Bears at Cal. He was a three-year starter and three-year captain. It probably would have been four if freshmen were allowed to play at the varsity level in college. Following his senior season, he was given the Naismith Award, then awarded to the best player in the country 6 feet or shorter.

He was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 1972 and spent five-plus years with them. He won an NBA championship with them during the 1974-75 season. After leaving the Warriors, he hooked on with the Washington Bullets for the 1977-1978 season -- winning another NBA title.

What made the second title more satisfying was Johnson earned his way onto the team after getting only a 10-day contract. According to Crowley, Phil Chenier, Johnson's teammate at Berkeley, was the Bullets' first-round draft pick in 1971. He hurt his back during the 1977-78 season and urged Bullets' coach Dick Motta to go after Johnson. He was signed to a 10-day contract and became an integral part of the Bullets' championship run. He even hit a half-court shot against the Seattle Supersonics in the finals.

Since having his jersey retired by Sequoia, Johnson has returned frequently to the school to talk to students and athletes alike.

"Everybody was aware of Charles Johnson," said Sequoia principal Morgan Marchbanks. "He was someone who was here frequently."

Although a quiet, private, humble man, Johnson was genuinely honored when he was told Sequoia was retiring his jersey. He told the Daily Journal in 2005, "It is an honor and pleasure to have something designated as yours. It means something to me. You have a short time on this planet if you can do something that leaves a legacy, it is amazing."

Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 117.